Electromagnetic refrigerator door lock



March 5, 1957 P. HALovATcl-l 2,783,617

ELECTROMAGNETIC REFRIGERATOR Dooa Locx Filed Nov. 5, 1954 United States Patent'O ELECTRoMA.GNErrc,H aumentaron. i

DoonLocK i Paul Halovatch, West Haven, Connv I Application November 1954, Serial No. 467,194

2A Claims. (CI'. G2G-89) This invention relates to and-locking devicesfor refrigerators' or the like. c

It is an object o'f the present invention to provide an electromagnetic refrigerator door lock which'v will be prevented from locking the refrigerator door when the current to thevre'frigerat'or is-z disconnected or wl'renv the refrigerator is discarde`d' to prevent children from becoming accidentally locked within discarded refrigerators ory the like..

It. is another object ofthe present invention toeprovide an electromagnetic lock ofthe above type whichl includes a manually operable switch connected inthe circuit of the lockte release the same.

It is still another object of the present invention to providean. electromagnetically operatedsafety pin. for refrigeratOrs or the like to prevent Vthe refrigerator door from locking when the refrigerator is discarded or when the current supply is cut off.

Other objects of the present invention are to provide an electromagnetic refrigerator door lock 'bearing the above objects in mind which is of simple construction, inexpensive to manufacture, has a minimum number of parts, is easy to use and ecient in operation.

For other objects and a better understanding of the invention, reference may be had to the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention shown in the locked position;

Fig. 2 is an electro-mechanical diagram showing the circuit when the refrigerator is in operation;

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 but shown with the refrigerator not in operation;

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a modified form of the present invention;

Fig. 5 is an electro-mechanical diagram showing the circuit of the modification of Fig. 4 when the current is disconnected, and

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 5 but showing the device when the current is on.

Referring now more in detail to the drawing, and more particularly to Figs. 1 through 3, 10 represents a refrigerator having the usual door 11 hingeably mounted thereon, substantially as illustrated. Locked casing 12 slidably mounts a latch or bolt 13 which is adapted to be received within a bracket 14 suitably secured to the outside of the refrigerator whereby to lock the door 11.

The inner end of the bolt or latch 13 is integrally formed with an enlarged head 15, a spring 16 sleeving the bolt 13 intermediate the head 15 and :the front wall of the casing 12 whereby to normally retain the bolt 13 in the inoperative position of Fig. 3 and to prevent the door 11 from being locked in a closed position.

In order to permit the latch to operate during the operation of the refrigerator, a soft iron core 17 is mounted within the casing 12 and includes a coil 18, one end of which is connected to a terminal 19 and the other end of 2,783,617 Patented Mar. 5, 1957 ICC which is connect'ed to'v a suitable source of power by the conductor v20'. An arm 21 is pivotally mounted by means of a pin 22, the lower end of arm 21 abutting one end of the bolt 1'3, as shown in Fig. 3. The terminal 1'9V is connected tota terminal 23 by means of aA leafv spring conductor'24 the terminal 234 beingl connected to suitableA source of power byy means of the conductor 25. Conductorsv 2G, 2'5"are provided with insulated covering 26 and terminate` in a mal-e' plug 27 adapted to be re'- ceived within the female outlet 2'8".

A handle 29 is pivotally mounted within the upper end of the' casing 12 by'meairs' of a pin-Slland" receives therethrough4v a pin integrally formed in one' end of a button 32', the handle2`9-y Being provided lwith an enlarged bore 33 which slidably'receives tlterewithinthe button 32'. A `spring 3`4 sleeves the pin 3'1 intermediate the button 32 and the inner end of the bore 33 whereby to normally urge the button outwardly, as' shown in Fig. 2.

Conductors 35, 35 are connected"` in parallel with the coil' 18'j andl supply'rpower ot `the refrigerator motor, not shown; i K. When the male plug 27' is' removed from the outlet 28, for'exampie when the refrigerator is not inuse or when it'y has been discarded, tlre coil A18u/ill' be deenergized topermit the inward movement of the bolt 13' under the action ofthe springj 16and to prevent the bolt from lock'- ing the door. However, upon energizati'on ofthe coil 18 upon plugging inr the male plug2'7 and during normal operation of' therefrigerator,4 the magnetic liux from the coil 18" Will'cxert a' stronger force orr the bolt I3 and spring 16 to permit the door to be locked. However, when it is desired to open the door, by pressing the button 32 inwardly, the leaf spring 24 will be opened to de-energize the coil 18 and to permit the movement of the bolt 13 to the unlocking position under the action of `spring 16. Thus, the bolt 13 will lock the door only when current is supplied through coil 18. This will prevent the door 11 from becoming accidentally locked when the refrigerator has been discarded and to prevent children or the like from becoming suffocated therewithin.

The breaking of the leaf spring 24 may be accomplished by other means, for example an ornamental knob that turns or other suitable means. The construction may also be modified to permit the easy and ready opening of the door at a slight pressure from within, as will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

Referring now particularly to Figs. 4 through 6, there is shown a modified form of the present invention wherein a safety pin or button 36 extends outwardly through the hollow portion intermediate the inner and outer walls of the side of the refrigerator 10 and is adapted t0 abut the end of the latch 13 to prevent the latter from moving into the bracket 14, as shown in Fig. 4. As shown in Fig. 5, a bearing bracket 37 is suitably mounted on the inside of the wall 38 directly behind the button 36 and slidably receives therethrough a shaft 38 of which the button 36 is an extension. Enlarged head 39 is integrally formed intermediate the extension or button 36 and the shaft 38 and abuts one end of the spring 40 which sleeves the shaft 38 intermediate the head 39 and the rear wall of the casing or bearing member 37. The spring 40 will normally project the button 36 into the path of the bolt 13 to prevent the latter from entering bracket 14 and thereby the door 11 from being locked accidentally. A soft iron core 41 is mounted rearwardly of the shaft 38 and is provided with a central bore 42 which slidably receives therewithin the inner end of the shaft. A coil 43 surrounds the core 41 and is energized by means of the male plug 44 which is also employed to supply current to the refrigerator motor through the conductors 45. Thus, upon plugging in the refrigerator and when the same is in normal operation, the coil 43 will be energized, the magnetic ux created within the cor e 4 1 being strong enough to overcome the action of spring 40 and to draw the button 36 into the retracted position of Fig. 6, and to permit the function in the normal manner of the bolt 13, it being understood that in this case the lock mechanism including the bolt and handle is of conventional construction. However, when the refrigerator is not in use or has been discarded, the coil 43 will be cle-energized, to pennanently project the pin 36 outwardly under the action of spring 40 and to prevent the door from being locked accidentally or otherwise. It will be noted that the device may be easily and readily installed on conventional refrigerators with a minimum of time and eifort and material.

While various changes may be made in the detail construction, it shall be understood that such changes shall be within the spirit and scope of the present invention `as deiined by the appended claims.

Having thus set Aforth and disclosed the nature of my invention, what is claimed is: Y

l. An electromagnetic lock for a door of refrigerators or the like having a substantially rigid frame and a motor having electric circuit means, said lock comprising a casing mounted on the outside of the door, a bolt having a head and being slidable through said casing, a bracket carried by the refrigerator frame adaptedjto receive said bolt therewithin when in an outwardly projected position, whereby to lock the refrigerator door or the like, a spring sleeving said bolt within said casing and abutting the head of said bolt whereby to normally urge said bolt out of said bracket, solenoid means for urging said bolt outwardly of said casing and into said bracket, said solenoid means being connected in the circuit of said refrigerator areaal? 4 motor, and manually operable switch means for deenergizing said solenoid means to permit the unlocking of the refrigerator, said solenoid means comprising a soft iron core, a coil surrounding said core, means for connecting said core to a source of suitable power, common to the refrigerator motor, an arm pivotally mounted within said casing with the upper end thereof being drawn towards said core upon energization of said coil, the lower end of said arm abutting the inner end of said bolt whereby to urge the same outwardly of said casing when said coil is energized.

2. A lock according to claim 1, said casing including va pivotally mounted handle having a bore therethrough, a button slidable within said bore, a pin secured to the inner end of said button and extending through said handle, a leaf spring conductor connected in the circuit of said coil and adapted to be opened by the inner end of said pin upon inward movement of said button, and spring means sleeving said pin within said handle bore whereby to normally urge said button into an outer, inoperative position with said leaf spring closed.

References Cited inthe iile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS ravi-e* *non 

